 Poster: A snowHead
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vjmehra,
All Scandinavian resorts are family-friendly and each area usually has a large and spacious warn hut to allow the family to rest after exposure to the cold weather. Are is colder but the snow may not be necessary better. There are less crowd and facilities are fine by Western European standard.
Any skiing resort with a lake or reservoir, like Galtur, St Moriz, Tignes or Zell am See, will be stunning in winter time. Thus Are with its huge lake will be out of this world if you enjoy the winter natural scenery.
I have been to Are a couple of times but I could only find Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Bjornen. It is near the top of Are Bjornen and has only one lift. Its next nearest lift is the top of a drag lift now called Jarvenliften. Jarvenlift in the Are piste map I had in 2001 and 2004 was called Forbergsliften. It was a 1.1km long "drag" lift which known to my brother and my families as "mother of all blue". Believe me it was hard to be dragged 1.1km in Scandinavian weather and then take this long blue run down. Since its name has been altered I hope the drag lift may be replaced by a chairlift for you.
Are Bjornen is definitely a family area but it would be a pig if your lodge has not bus to it.
Are now has the 5 areas linked up in 2. Duved and Tegefjall can be regarded as one linked area on the left. Rokullen, Are and Bjornen can be skied as one resort. Copperhill is at the extreme right of the latter linked area but poorly connected and requires a bit of walking to the fully linked system. Most areas are pretty tame and the black runs concentrate mainly in Are itself which is linked to the Rokullen in the left and Bjornen in the right. I expect an average skier comfortable with blue runs would enjoy touring around each linked area.
Scandinavians are friendly people. Think there is night skiing as well. My only reservation is Copper Mountain Lodge is at a strategically poor location to enjoy the full resort unless it has a frequent bus service to the rest of the 5 areas.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They said the buses are frequent and the reviews are excellent...but I agree the location could be better.
We chose it because it seems so child friendly, with plenty of indoor stuff to do.
If the busses are frequent then during the day we are likely to spend our time in Bjornen (well I assume we will).
In reality it may be a case of me sneaking off for the odd half day, whilst my wife stays with the little one and then the reverse whilst she has some lessons.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Copper Mountain Lodge and its area wasn't developed when I skied there but I do know there is a lot of facilities in Bjornen for the kids.
The solo run of Copper Lodge seems to be green so it would be family friendly.
Between the bottom of the Copperhillliften and the nearest Jarvenliften blue run there is a linked piste but it is impossible to tell if which direction it goes. My guess is you can skied from the top of Jarvenliften into the bottom of Copperhillliften but no prepared piste on the other direction indicated in the Google map and the actual Are piste map.
However it is quite common to ski anywhere you wish in the Scandinavia and there are tracks you can actually ski from the Copper Lodge down to the bottom of Bjornen according the piste map which you can download. In Scandinavia you use the ski as a tool to save you from walking.
Last advice is place like Are may have icy patches or dumps with ice (from the piste bashers). Must avoid them or slow right down because you can lose control on these areas. Usually they are well sign-posted.
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Just back from Are and we skied around Copperhill Mountain Lodge. Copper Lodge is 2km walk from the centre of Bjornen. But there seems to be a bus that runs between the village and Copperhill Mountain Lodge.
Bjornen is pretty much designed for families and is the best place in Are for young children. The centre has lots of gentle pomas and magic carpets. Swedes are very family orientated.
You can also ski into the main area of Are from Bjornen if you get time to ski with out the children. Very easy to do if the weather is fine and you are ok on red runs. In the last few years some new chairs have been put in to make access much easier.
Sadly when we were there most lifts were shut due to the wind. But you can get around on the free ski busses. Free if you have purchased a lift pass.
Enjoy your trip.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Just in case anyone else was looking at this, here is the piste map:
https://www.skistar.com/en/Are/About-Are/Piste-map/
I'm slightly worried we're miles away from the family bit, but thats sort of offset by the fact that there is a bus and the hotel looks pretty cool!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes, you can ski from the top of Jarvenliften to the bottom of Copperhillliften. It's easy to miss the turning/exit for Copperhillliften, though. Jarvenliften is a bit of a tedious lift, but it's not the worst drag lift in the world. The blues 118 and 120 down from the top of Jarvenliften are lovely - and specially designed for kids (lots of speaking models, little houses to ski in and out of....). The cafe at the bottom of Jarvenliften is OK and there is a warming room on the opposite side of the road near green run 116 where you can eat a packed lunch. The green run 111 down towards the Sadelexpressen lift is a longer green run, but can get a little busy with people getting from Bjornen to the other parts of the resort. The only run in the Bjornen area which I recall being a little steep is the bottom part of blue 112 near Bjornenliften.
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@vjmehra, Getting to top of Järvenliften (B44) is fine. I can't say about going to/from Copperhill lodge as never been, but all the pictures I've seen it looks lovely.
Should have no concerns about taking the 2.75 year old on the lifts around Bjornen. Kids (under 8?) with a helmet go free. Button lifts B41 and 42 move really slowly. No probs for the child to go between your legs. Wouldn't be surprised if they can go by themselves after a couple of days.
Plenty of snow here with 15cm of new snow in the past couple of days here  Its been cold at -10 to -15 C, so a few balaclava/buffs etc are needed.
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anyone stay at the granen hotel? considering staying there. Need to be near town for my travelling buddy.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Redwine wrote: |
| anyone stay at the granen hotel? considering staying there. Need to be near town for my travelling buddy. |
No, but there must be better priced apartments in Åre village on the skistar website? BTW, airport transfers will also stop in the other ski areas, not just the village.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
Should be fine, it will a very gentle slope, just ski backward in a slow reverse snow plough, holding her hands and yell Pizza pizza pizza at her. That seems to be the drill for most kids first lessons !
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I've never attempted that...may have to give it a go 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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View from Björnen today was fantastic.
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You know it makes sense.
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There are worse views...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Any updates from are?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Where can I find information about the length of the slopes?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@avandervoorn, no idea. Take a GPS or long tape measure with you....
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Good advice but I like to know it before I am there, actually
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@avandervoorn, let us know if you find out...i'd be interested to know
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@dobby well, that's exactly my question to the community. Obviously, I am not the only one
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@avandervoorn, when are you off? I'm off to Are in just over a week. If I remember I'll take my GPS and do some measuring....give me something to do other than chase after the kids.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@dobby have fun next week! I will be in Are end of March. Appreciate if you can do some measuring of the slope lengths. Since I am a beginner I will head for Bjornen piste, the blue slopes. Good luck with the kids 
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@avandervoorn, the blue slopes in bjornen are lovely. And there is a nice warm room/warmstuga? in bjornen too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@dobby cool, looking forward to experience it. meanwhile I am getting fit with specific ski/snowboard exercises at home.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Trip fast approaching, 3 weeks away. Looking like some snow recently? Anyone there recently and will met us live vicariously through them?
Also, how is the off piste? It doesn't seem outrageously expensive to join a group to go over the back side. Ski star list a back side itinerary and a steeper version? Anyone with experience on both, with suggestions. I am pretty strong offsite, just not jumping off, nor do I care to need to get a lot of air to drop into anything these days
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@Redwine, We'll be there week before you so will post a snow report or two
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You know it makes sense.
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| Redwine wrote: |
Trip fast approaching, 3 weeks away. Looking like some snow recently? Anyone there recently and will met us live vicariously through them?
Also, how is the off piste? It doesn't seem outrageously expensive to join a group to go over the back side. Ski star list a back side itinerary and a steeper version? Anyone with experience on both, with suggestions. I am pretty strong offsite, just not jumping off, nor do I care to need to get a lot of air to drop into anything these days |
On page 1 of this thread I detailed some offpiste. I think the skistar experiences will be ok for a red run skier and above.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Does anyone have any good suggestions for activities to keep a (nearly) 3 year old occupied?
We have an indoor pool at the hotel, plus of course (hopefully) some baby ski lessons and I have ski reins and tip connectors at the ready so I can take her up the baby travellator
It would be good to do a dog sled or see some reindeer, but I think those trips are generally around 3 hours which may be a bit to long for a little one (especially if there are no toilet breaks)!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Also to those who have been...are there any off licences near Bjornen, we couldn't find one earlier, just a super market 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Don't think there is. Rule 3b of scandi skiing is to take some booze with you or buy at the duty free in the airport. The nearest place to buy booze will probably be the supermarket near bjornen. If you want anything stronger than 3.5% you'll have to go to the systembolaget in åre. Shut on sundays and closes at 6pm most days i think. From bjornen this is on the first turning into åre from the main road, iirc. Google åre systembolaget and you'll get all the info you need.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Ah cool tks, will give that a go..we did bring some supplies but assumed we could top up more easily
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not so easy to get booze in Sweden. Enjoy your skiing...
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